Disposal device



July l1, 1957 R. G. woRMAN 3,330,489

DISPOSAL DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1955 2 SheefS-Sheet l fr/7gg R. G. WORMAN DISPOSAL DEVICE July l1, i967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1965 United States Patent O 3,330,489 DISPOSAL DEVICE Robert G. Worman, 1159 Harrelton Court, Evansville, Ind. 47715 Filed Sept. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 490,933 10 Claims. (Cl. 241-99) The present invention relates to disposal devices, and more particularly concerns devices for crushing, puncturing or otherwise treating articles such as glass lamp bulbs, metal cans and the like in disposing of such articles after their useful life.

It is an object of the invention to provide a disposal device of the above type which effectively crushes, breaks, punctures or otherwise destroys various types of articles to render them unusable and safe for further handling, Iand to convert them to better form for iinal disposal.

It is another object to provide a portable, easily manually operable device of the above type which is safe in operation, rugged in construction, simple and compact in form, and readily and economically manufactured.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a device of the above type which is especially suited for use in crushing elongated fluorescent light bulbs.

It is another particular object of the invention to provide a device of the above type which is especially suited for puncturing metal cans of the aerosol type.

Other objects .and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

With the above objects in view, the present invention relates to a disposal device comprising an outer elongated tubular member having an inner elongated tubular member arranged therein in nested concentric relation, the tubular members having axially extending openings intermediate their ends, support means secured to the outer member extending inwardly through the opening in the inner member for holding an object to be disposed of, and contact means secured to the inner member and projecting inwardly therefrom, the inner member being rotatable within the outer member for closing the opening therein and thereafter bringing the contact means into destructive penetration of the object to be disposed of.

The invention will be better understood from the following description'taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention adapted for crushing elongated uorescent light bulbs;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view in enlarged scale of the FIGURE 1 device taken along the line 2-2;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the inner crushing member of the FIGURE 1 device;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view of the outer housing member of the FIGURE 1 device;

FIGURE 5 is a partly sectional view in elevation of the lower portion of the FIGURE l device;

FIGURE `6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention which is adapted for puncturing aerosol cans;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view in enlarged scale of the FIGURE 6 device taken along the line 7-7;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view partly in section of the FIGURE 6 device;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the inner tubular member of the FIGURE 6 device; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged detail view of the can retainer bar of the FIGURE 6 device.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a disposal device adapted for crushing elongated glass articles such as iluorescent light bulbs which comprises an outer elongated tubular housing 1, such as a metal pipe, which is open at top and bottom and in the wall of which is an elongated axially extending opening 2, extending nearly to the opposite ends of housing 1. The top is preferably provided with a cover 1a (shown in fragmentary form) which may simply `be a cap frictionally engaging the housing. Curved retainer plate 3 is secured along the inner surface of housing 1, such as by bolts, welding or other suitable means, and is provided at its bottom with a support plate 4 extending between retainer plate 3 and the wall housing 1. Retainer plate 3 serves to hold in position a used iluorescent light bulb A which is inserted into the housing through wall opening 2 and placed with its lower end resting on support plate 4. The upper `and lower ends of retainer plate 3 are spaced a substantial distance inwardly from the corresponding ends of housing 1 for reasons apparent hereinafter. Ring member 5 tits into the open bottom end of housing 1 (see FIGURES 4 and 5) and is secured thereto by welding, by threaded engagement, or Iby any other suitable means.

Tubular inner door member 6 is formed with an elongated opening intermediate its ends, so that it has an annula-r top portion 6a, an annular bottom portion 6b, and an intermediate portion `6c of elongated semi-circular form. Door member 6 nests concentrically within outer tubular housing 1 (see FIGURE 2) as it rests with its annular bottom end on the upper surface of support ring 5, and is rotatable thereon about the housing axis between a position which uncovers housing opening 2 and a position closing the opening. The upper and lower annular portions 6a, 6b serve as bearings in slidable contact with housing 1 to guide the rotation of door 6 and to retain it in proper position in housing 1. The axial dimensions of upper and lower rings 6a, 6b are limited so as to clear the upper and lower ends, respectively, of retainer plate 3 in the assembly of door 6 within housing 1.

Secured along the inner surface of rotatable door 6, as by welding or other suitable means, is an elongated crusher member 7 of curved form projecting inwardly into the housing interior. The arrangement of door 6 and its attached crusher member 7 is such that upon rotation of door 6 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2, door 6 fully closes opening 2 as shown by the interrupted lines in FIGURE 2, and crusher member 7 after further rotation of door 6 contacts and crushes uorescent bulb A along substantially the entire length thereof. As seen in FIGURE 5, the bottom end of crusher 7 is above support plate 4 to avoid hindrance to the glass crushing action lof projection 7.

Housing .1 is further provided with a slot 8 extending partly around its circumference through which handle 9, secured to rotatable door 6, freely passes for movement along the length of the slot. 'The inner end of handle 9 is preferably threaded for engagement in the threaded socket 10 xed to the interior surface of door 6. Handle 9 may thereby be readily removed for preventing operation of the device or for purposes of convenient packaging of the device for shipment. The length of slot 8 is such as to permit handle 9 to move door 6 in one direction to a cornpletely open position uncovering housing opening 2 as shown in FIGURE 2, and in the opposite direction to a completely clos-ed position covering opening 2 and with crusher member 7 projecting into the bulb to be crushed. The arrangement of slot 8 is such that with door 6 in closed position the latter also closes the slot so as to prevent crushed particles from entering the slot.

Brackets 13 and 14 are advantageously secured to upper and lower portions of housing 1 for attaching the device to a wall or other support. While shown in a vertical position, the device may be operated while horizontal or in other positions, as found convenient.

In the operation of t-he described device, door 6 is swung open by handle 9, a discarded light `bulb is inserted through aperture 2 in the outer housing but possibly also through the open top of housing 1, and arranged with the bottom end of the bulb resting on support plate 4. Handle 9 is then grasped and pulled around in slot 8, so that door 6 rotates, closing aperture 2 and then crushing glass bulb A by means of the impact of crus-her member 7. The broken particles of glass then fall through the open bottom of housing 1, from which they can be collected for discarding.

The shape and size of support plate 4 (see FIGURE 2) is such as to provide a space 11 between itself and the inner wall of housing 1 through which debris from the crushed article may pass and fall out of the device.

As will be understood, crusher member 7 may have various other forms and arrangements than that shown. For example, it may consist of a short bar extending radially inwardly from door 6, in which case it would be secured to door 6 at a point substantially closer to the latters leading edge than is the Crusher member 7 to ensure proper impact with the glass bulb.

In a construction where retainer plate 3 is bolted to housing 1, it would be attached thereto after inner door 6 is assembled within housing 1. Where retainer plate 3 is fixed permanently to the housing, as by welding, inner door 6 would initially have a separate ring portion 6a or 6b which would be welded in place on door 6 after the latter is inserted into housing 1.

If desired, the upper surface of support ring and/or the inner walls of housing 1 may be suitably provided with anti-friction means such as graphite, Teon, or roller or ball bearing assemblies, on which the bottom or sides of ring 6b may easily slide or roll. Bearing surfaces may also or alternatively be provided at the top annular portion 6a, if desired.

In a different embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGURE 6, the device is adapted for puncturing cans, especially aerosol-type cans containing tiuids under pressure, for rendering them harmless and unfit for further use. In this device, a rotatable door 26 with attached handle 29 is arranged within housing 21 having an aperture 22 and a slot 28, the parts operating substantially as described in connection with the FIGURE 1 device, but usually being substantially shorter in length. Housing 21 is provided with top and bottom covers 21a, 2lb respectively, of which top cover 21a may simply be a cap member frictionally engaging the housing, whereas bot- 'tom cover 2lb is preferably secured by welding or like permanent means to the housing, or by threaded engagement therewith. Bottom cover 2lb is further provided with a drain opening 15 to permit draining of any liquid rnaterial which may escape from the punctured can B. In this embodiment, lower ring 26h rests on the upper surface of bottom cover 2lb for rotation thereon.

As shown in FIGURE 7, a puncturing member 27 having a sharp point is secured to the inside surface of door 26 and positioned thereon to come into contact with and puncture the side wall of can B upon rotation of door 26 to closing position.

Retainer plate 23, similarly to previously described plate 3, is bolted or otherwise secured along one longitudinal edge to the interior surface of housing 21 and is provided at its bottom end with a support plate 24 on which can B rests. An auxiliary retainer bar 16 is pivotally secured to retainer plate 23 at its projecting edge, as by a bolt 17, for movement between an inoperative position extending along the edge of plate 23 and an operative position (as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8) extending transverse the long axis of plate 23 so as to assist in retaining can B in position when inserted in housing 21 and to hold the can in position when door 26 is opened to permit puncturing member 27 to be withdrawn from the can after piercing its wall. As seen in FIGURE 10, retainer bar 16 is provided with a transverse tab portion 16a, which,

by abutting plate 23, serves to stop the pivotal movement of bar 16 when it is in proper operative position.

In the operation of the FIGURE 6 device, inner door 26 is moved by handle 29 to open position, and with retainer bar 16 in uprig-ht inoperative position, can B is inserted through opening 22 and placed on support plate 24 against retainer plate 23. Auxiliary retainer bar 16 is then moved downwardly to operative position to securely hold can B in position. Door 26 is then rotated by handle 29 to closed position as shown by interrupted lines in FIG- URE 7 and further rotated until puncturing member 27 pierces the wall of can B. Door 26 is then opened, and with bar 16 pivoted to raised position, can B is removed and discarded.

It will be evident that retainer plate 3 of the FIGURE l device may also be provided with one or more auxiliary retainer bars similar to retainer bar 16 shown in the FIG- URE 6 puncturing device, if desired. Chains (which are removable from hooks), clips, and other retaining devices may also be used. It is also possible to provide mechanical linkages or other arrangements which would prevent the door being closed until the retainer bar is in the lowered (operative) position. This would preclude operation of the device if the object to be destroyed were not correctly seated against the retainer plate.

There is thus provided by the invention a compact and rugged disposal device which may easily and economically be made of readily available inexpensive materials, which is useful as a portable or fixed device for disposing of a wide variety of used articles in addition to those already mentioned (such as incandescent light bulbs, bottles, and the like), and which is capable of prolonged trouble-free operational life without the need for frequent maintenance and repair.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous modications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A disposal device comprising, in combination, an outer tubular member having an inner tubular member arranged therein nested concentric relation, said members having axially extending openings intermediate their ends, support means secured to said outer tubular member extending inwardly through said opening in said inner tubular member for holding an object to be disposed of, and contact means secured to said inner tubular member and projecting inwardly therefrom, said inner tubular member being rotatable within said outer tubular member for closing said opening therein and thereafter bringing said contact means into impact against and penetration into the article to be disposed of.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer tubular member is formed with a slot transverse its axis, and manually operable means are arranged extending through said slot and secured to said inner tubular member for rotating the same.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said outer tubular member is provided with circular bearing means at one end and said inner tubular member rests with one end on said bearing means for rotation thereon.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said outer tubular member is provided with an opening at said one end thereof for passage of debris from the article after impact by said contact means.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said support means comprises an elongated member extending axially along said outer member and a transverse plate member projecting from one end of said elongated support member.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said contact member for crushing the article held by said support 5 means.

7. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said contact means comprises pointed puncturing means.

8. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said elongated support member is provi-ded at its inner edge with an auxiliary retainer member pivotally secured thereto for movement between an inoperative axial position and an operative transverse position.

9. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said circular bearing means is annular.

10. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said circular bearing means is a disc-shaped cover closing said end of said outer tubular member, said cover having a drain opening passing therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1874 Latta 241-99 7/1886 Lewis 241-99 

1. A DISPOSAL DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING AN INNER TUBULAR MEMBER ARRANGED THEREIN NESTED CONCENTRIC RELATION, SAID MEMBERS HAVING AXIALLY EXTENDING OPENINGS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, SUPPORT MEANS SECURED TO SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDING INWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR HOLDING AN OBJECT TO BE DISPOSED OF, AND CONTACT MEANS SECURED TO SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND PROJECTING INWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE WITHIN SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING THEREIN AND THEREAFTER BRINGING SAID CONTACT MEANS INTO IMPACT AGAINST AND PENETRATION INTO THE ARTICLE TO BE DISPOSED OF. 